Timothy Owings has been back to First Baptist Church of Augusta several times since that tearful service in June 2003, when he resigned amid an internal investigation into the church’s spending.

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RAINIER EHRHARDT/STAFF

Eight years after leaving First Baptist Church, Timothy Owings counsels people about money and ministers in area churches.

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Owings was the church’s second-longest-serving pastor in its 200-year history. Today, he’s a financial planner in Augusta, and continues to minister in area churches, eight years after stepping down at First Baptist.

The decision to resign after 13 years at the church sparked rumors and questions, many of which remain unanswered.

In 2003, the church’s board of trustees sought to determine whether the church’s bylaws were violated when several expenses were not approved, including $21,000 for sanctuary renovations, a $22,000 salary expense and an undisclosed amount on a piano.

“All of us made mistakes,” Owings said. “I did. The moment was overwhelmed with emotion and underwhelmed with wisdom. We all probably look back and would change a few things. But we can’t change that now.”

It was a difficult time for Owings and the church, but both say they’re looking to the future, rather than the past.

“Since the day I arrived, Tim has been gracious and supportive to me and my ministry with First Baptist,” said Greg DeLoach, the senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Augusta since fall 2005.

Owings calls it “one of those times you can see God’s hand at work a whole lot better through the rearview mirror than through the windshield.”

Upon his resignation, members of the church voted to give Owings a 12-month, $150,000 “appreciation package" including salary, health benefits and cellphone reimbursement.

Within a few months, Owings started working for RSI, a Texas firm where he supported and advised churches in capital campaigns.

Owings remained in Augusta with his wife, Kathie, so he spent his days commuting.

On Monday mornings, he’d board a plane and fly to four, five or six different cities during the week before returning to Augusta on a Friday afternoon.

“I loved the work, but the commute was killing me,” he said. It was just the sort of lifestyle that some people consider “glamorous,” but Owings said, in reality, “It was glamorous for about a week.”

Eventually, another opportunity presented itself that allowed Owings to stay closer to home.

The pastor has, since the early 1990s, played an annual Christmas program on the piano.

He used to play at First Baptist of Augusta, but after leaving the church, he continued the program at First Baptist Church of North Augusta.

In December 2006, more than 1,000 people attended. One of them was an old friend and member of First Baptist.

The next day, that friend sent Owings an e-mail to catch up. The e-mail signature included the name of a financial planning firm Owings was interested in.

“It got me thinking,” Owings said. They grabbed lunch and talked for two hours about the business.

Within six weeks, Owings had started a new career as a financial planner. He got his license four months later and has worked in town, growing his business, ever since.

“They told me I could build a business here based on my values and pastoral gifts,” he said.

That’s key, Owings said, because he wanted a business where he could continue listening and counseling those in need, and walk alongside those making major life decisions, just like when he was a pastor.

“The truth is, I’m doing as much pastoral work as I’ve ever done,” he said.

Owings said he looks back on his years at First Baptist fondly.

Highlights of his ministry there include mobilizing the church for missions, expanding the campus, and growing the youth program, Owings said.

“Scores of young people came through the church,” he said. “We still keep up with a lot of those young people.”

Occasionally, Owings said, someone will still ask him what happened at First Baptist in 2003.

Here’s how Owings said he usually responds: “What happened, it’s not that it’s insignificant, but it’s not nearly as important as what we do today.”

Owings said he has “no regrets.”

“It was very unpleasant and painful for everybody,” he said.

Owings’ three children were grown and not at home at the time. “It affected them though, but as a family we’ve moved on,” he said. “We are thrilled the church is doing well. We will love that congregation forever. Our children grew up there. My ashes will be in that memorial garden. We were blessed to play a part.”

Looking back, Owings said he was honored to have been pastor of First Baptist.

“That congregation has more loving and nourishing people per square inch than any congregation I’ve ever seen,” he said.

Currently, the Owings family are members of Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church.

On occasion, Owings still guest preaches for other churches, and he’s led Bible

studies for St. Paul’s Church
and Church of the Good Shepherd since leaving First Baptist. Every now and then, Owings said, they’ll also attend the Christmas Eve service at their former church.

“There are so many things in life we can not control,” he said. “We can control our attitude, and my attitude is one of hope and reconciliation.”